Now members of the bridge crew are briefed beforehand on passage plans, the route cruise ships take, to make sure they understand it and to make sure they "are asked and encouraged to raise any operational concerns without fear of retribution or retaliation," according to the policy. To avoid distractions, access to the bridge is off-limits to all but essential personnel during arrivals and departures from port, heavy traffic or other periods. (During the Concordia investigation, a bridge officer told Italian magistrates that the ship's head waiter and purser were chatting with Schettino when he hit the rocks, according to accounts in Italian newspapers.)

How are these enforced? Duffy said cruise line executives are required to verify that they are being followed, and companies risk being expelled from the association if they don't follow through. Cruise Line International has brought nine trade groups under its umbrella, including the European Cruise Council and the International Cruise Council Australasia, to form a global association to set standards and policies.

Ananias, who had sailed on more than 60 cruises with her family before the Concordia wreck, called the new policies "insulting" and said the cruise industry needs a wake-up call.

"Can the industry change? Absolutely," she said. "Will they do it? No, not until they realize that safety of passengers is the key to making this industry grow."

Cruise Line International has always maintained that safety of passengers is paramount. Duffy told reporters in a December news conference about the review: "Without safety, there is no cruise industry."

Ananias, who has a lawsuit pending against Costa Crociere, the Concordia's owner, won't set foot on a cruise ship until more safety measures are implemented. She declined to discuss details of those desired improvements.

Barraclough, meanwhile, signed up to sail on the South China Sea in October. In an email, she said she wants to regain what she once loved about going on a cruise and visiting new places every day.

And she hopes it might help her heal too.

The upcoming cruise, she said, could be a way "to try to put the nightmares and bad thoughts away, if we go on another cruise and it's great like our past cruises. Then we can try to put the bad memories behind us."